Today's deadliest sin is cruelty

By Nicole Martin

12:01AM GMT 07 Feb 2005

Forget anger, gluttony and sloth. Cast aside too pride, lust, envy and greed. Most people think that the seven deadly sins are out of date and should be replaced with new vices to reflect what is most evil in today's society.

Cruelty was considered the most evil sin, with 39 per cent of people voting for it in a BBC poll. Adultery came second (11 per cent) followed by bigotry (eight per cent), dishonesty (seven per cent), hypocrisy (six per cent), greed (six per cent) and selfishness (five per cent).

The survey of 1,000 adults also asked people which of the original seven sins they had committed. Anger topped the list (79 per cent) followed by pride (63 per cent), envy (61 per cent) and gluttony (59 per cent). Lust had been committed by 57 per cent of those polled, sloth by 56 per cent and greed by 54 per cent.

Ross Kelly, from the Heaven and Earth Show that commissioned the poll, said: "Attitudes towards sin have changed. We're more concerned about actions which hurt others.''